Communication goals

Goals of the Communications Strategy

The period covered by this communications strategy follows a highly eventful and exciting period of technological and scientific achievements, both at CERN and in particle physics more widely. The start-up of the LHC in 2008 and the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, for example, have had enormous impact not only within the high-energy physics community, but also in terms of raising awareness of CERN and of particle physics amongst the general public.

Looking forward, three major communications challenges have been identified for CERN communications:

Maintaining interest when faced with a potential scarcity of “big breakthroughs” on the scale of the discovery of the Higgs boson and the completion of the Standard Model;

Securing understanding and support for the ambitious future accelerator programmes deemed necessary for the search for new physics, and for the long-term future of CERN, particle physics and fundamental research;

Reacting to the inherent ups and downs of experimental results. Overhyping of new results accompanied or followed by inflated criticism may lead to a loss of credibility for the field.

These challenges present important communication opportunities:

the diversity of CERN’s scientific programmes beyond the LHC and the accelerator complex;

the scientific process (hypotheses and theories, experimental data, critical thinking, peer-review, open discussion), the “grey areas” of particle physics research and how scientific breakthroughs are often the cumulative result of small advances;

the technological advances that are made in the search for new physics;

the impact of CERN on society.

Thus, the overall objective of the CERN communications strategy is:To help ensure the long-term future of CERN’s mission and share it with society

This overall objective may be broken down into the following goals:

Contribute to maintaining and increasing support from current Member States.

Contribute to attracting new Member and Associate Member States (in line with the current strategy for scientific and geographical enlargement).

Maintain high public awareness and engagement with CERN’s activities.

Foster community-building efforts within both CERN and the international particle physics community;

Raise awareness of and provide information about CERN's societal impact.

Enable CERN to serve as an effective voice for fundamental research in relevant multilateral debates and with the public.